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Recently, director Blitz Bazawule’s 2023 movieThe Color Purplewas applauded during its screening at the David Geffen Academy Museum Theater. The movie is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 22, 2025. Bazawule’s movie is the second adaptation of the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker. Steven Spielberg had earlier released his version back in 1985. Spielberg green-lit the 2023’sThe Color Purplein 2018 and served as its producer as well.

Spielberg previously revealed that he was initially reluctant to direct 1985’sThe Color Purplebecause he felt that a black director should direct the movie. The film was a turning point in Spielberg’s career as it wasn’t the kind of typical summer blockbuster that he was popular for.
Also read:“Whatever you do, don’t blink”: Steven Spielberg Had a Strange Advice For The Hunger Games Spin Off Star Rachel Zegler

Steven Spielberg was not interested in directing 1985’sThe Color Purple
In 1985, musician Quincy Jones approachedSteven Spielbergto direct 1985’sThe Color Purple, however, Spielberg refused, claiming that his knowledge of the Deep South was inadequate. He claimed that it would be more appropriate if the film was directed by a black director. In a recent interview, Spielberg said, (viaVanity Fair),
“You need a black director for this,” adding, “He (Quincy Jones) said, ‘Did you have to be an alien to direct E.T.? and I said, ‘Actually, I am an alien!'”

The film was a box office success, grossing roughly $98 million on a budget of $15 million. It was well-received by the viewers and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.
Also read:Steven Spielberg’s Career as a Director Was Never the Same After the Birth of His First Child

Steven Spielberg approved 2023’sThe Color Purple
At the David Geffen Academy Museum Theater, Oprah Winfrey, who starred in Spielberg’sThe Color Purple, revealed that Spielberg approved the 2023 version in 2018. Spielberg then explained why he approved it,
“What made me say ‘yes’ was your production of The Color Purple musical on Broadway, which I thought was extraordinary. I didn’t really know if The Color Purple had another movie in it until you, and the songwriter, and that cast proved that another iteration could stand on its own, with The Color Purple ’85 version being its context, but not defining it,”adding,“This had its own definition, and this was relevant for our time for now, for audiences today.”

Both the movies are based on the 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker which won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction. 2023’sThe Color Purpleis scheduled to be released in the United States on July 25, 2025.
Related:“He’s not an a**hole like Spielberg”: Steven Spielberg Became Collateral Damage After Disgruntled Director Went Guns Blazing Against James Cameron
Farhan Asif
Articles Published :1696
Farhan Asif is a gaming writer at FandomWire who specializes in video games/franchises like Helldivers 2, GTA, and Call of Duty. Apart from 1600+ published articles for FandomWire, he has also written more than 750 articles for AnimatedTimes. He has a passion for coding and is pursuing a degree in computer science. During his free time, Farhan loves to play video games and hopes to create a video game of his own one day.